The Rise and Fall of Granite Pointe

Nelson Golf Society

In 1919, a group of men in Nelson believed that a golf course was “absolutely essential in any town that had any pretension of being up to date,” as quoted in the Nelson Daily News. They secured an option on the DeKinder and Saxon ranches (22 acres) and leased additional land from the Canadian Pacific Railway. The first 9-hole course, designed by Mr. Greary and Mr. Bilker, opened for play in 1920.

Granite Pointe expands to 18 holes

Granite Pointe operated as a 9-hole course for nearly a century. In 1992, the community-managed, non-profit organization overseeing it secured a loan of over $1 million to expand to 18 holes, aiming to attract more members and secure the course’s long-term future.

Redesigned by acclaimed architect Bill Newis, the new Par 72 layout introduced challenging terrain and strategic risk-reward holes that demanded precise shot-making.

However, instead of revitalizing the club, the expansion coincided with a decline in golf memberships and rising expenses. The anticipated financial boost never materialized, leaving the course burdened with mounting debt. The loan remained unpaid for more than 30 years, deepening the club’s financial struggles.

A misguided monument to honor draft dodgers.

In 2004, a monument honoring American Vietnam War draft dodgers was proposed in Nelson, B.C. However, due to immense public outrage in the U.S. and local controversy over its message, the city declined to host it.

More on this later.

The Villas

The Villas at Granite Pointe, a small housing development located next to Art Gibson Park, is built on a parcel of land purchased from Granite Pointe Golf Club.

The View

The View on West Richards consists of two eight-home condominium townhomes, built on a small parcel of land purchased from Granite Pointe Golf Club along West Richards Street.

The Crossing

The Crossing on Granite Pointe is a 30-unit townhome condominium development built on a small parcel of land purchased from Granite Pointe Golf Club along Choquette Avenue. At the time, Mayor John Dooley highlighted its affordability, noting that units were priced under $300,000 and positioned to help first-time buyers enter the housing market.

City Approves 306-Unit Expansion at Granite Pointe Golf Course

Nelson City Council granted final zoning approval for a major development project at Granite Pointe Golf Club, allowing for the construction of 306 housing units over 15 years on 17.5 acres—covering approximately 13% of the golf course lands.

The development, which includes a small-scale retail and studio space within the clubhouse area, is designed to offer a mix of residential options, including multi-unit buildings, duplexes, and potential row housing. The commercial component is intended to support local artisans and neighborhood conveniences but will not include large retailers, grocery stores, or high-traffic businesses.

The approval comes amid concerns about the financial viability of the golf course, prompting the Granite Pointe Golf and Recreation Society to seek new revenue sources through land development.

Framed as a “vibrant, comprehensively planned, mixed-use cluster development,” the project is intended to integrate with and complement the existing golf course.

Public engagement included two community open houses and a public hearing, where many nearby residents voiced concerns about increased traffic and higher-density housing near single-family homes.

Ultimately, the City justified the approval by citing the Official Community Plan (OCP), which had long designated part of the golf course for future residential development.

Nelson Star

Granite Pointe loses a stroke

Due to the construction of new tee boxes on what was previously the driving range, the course, which was originally a Par 72, has been shortened by one stroke and is now a Par 71.

Nelson Star — Granite Pointe golf course out of debt following land sale

Club president Am Naqvi told three dozen people at the annual general meeting Saturday that the club is officially debt-free for the first time in decades after a substantial injection of cash from developers.

“We have no more loans with [Nelson and District Credit Union]. We’re officially out of debt and in surplus,” Naqvi said to a smattering of applause from club members.

The money comes from the sale of the first parcel of land being developed in an ambitious proposal to build 306 housing units around the 18-hole course.

“They paid us cash of $2 million, and we paid off about $1.4 million owed, so we have about $600,000 sitting in the bank,” Naqvi said.

The developers came to them with a plan to build housing over 15 years on 17.5 acres.

Note: There was little reaction to this news in Nelson as nothing seemed out-of-the-ordinary about this development plan—yet.

Nelson Star

Globe & Mail — Small B.C. town woos the luxury buyer

Many Nelsonites feel absolutely gobsmacked by an advertorial (a fake news article published under a paid-inclusion model) that appears in the Globe & Mail about a developer who intends to build a $500-million.

Their target market for Nelson will include the many Albertans and residents who want to escape the Lower Mainland, but also wealthy American golfers seeking a mountain backdrop on the fairway. The master-planned project will be anchored by an 18-hole golf course after a two-year renovation that begins next year. Designed by golf course architect Doug Carrick, it will be managed by American golf course management company Troon. Mr. Kwan said that private jets will be able to land in the West Kootenay Regional Airport, a half-hour drive away."

Mr. Kwan goes on to describe some of the amenities that are planned for the new units, which sound extraordinarily bizarre as furnishings in the Nelson area.

• The mattress is exactly the same spec as the Park Hyatt.
• The linens and towels are exactly the same spec as Fairmont Gold.
• The glassware is Austrian crystal.
• The dinnerware is the porcelain from Villeroy & Boch.
• The Vitamix blender is not the one you buy over the counter. It’s the commercial grade one.”

Globe & Mail

Change.org — Stop the Hallo Nelson Development

Under the banner "Housing For All, Not For The Few" a group calling itself HellNō Hallō quickly launches a website and starts an online petition, which amasses 2K+ signatures within days.

Change.org

Nelson Star — Hallo drops "The Dodger" name

"After receiving some really respectful insight about the context of the area’s draft dodger history, and reaction to the proposed ‘Our Way Home’ statue in 2004, we agreed this naming didn’t align with the values and commitments we’re making to honor and elevate such a precious community asset,” said the developer in an email.

They ostensibly made this decision to avoid a similar eruption of outrage in the US, which could blow back on their precious partner, Troon Golf Management.

The article also notes:

Recognizing the affordable housing crunch Ebrahimi and Kwan note plans to provide homes that'll appeal to workers from Hallō and other seasonal businesses, first-time home buyers, downsizers and seniors. Those‘ll be spread throughout the 16-acre development — slated to include 300 units built over the next five years.

Asked what safeguards are in place to ensure the golf course remake is completed, and not stalled or abandoned mid-development, the builders say they have a commitment to the all-volunteer Granite Pointe Golf Society “that we will ensure the golf course is maintained as a legacy asset.”

But the so-called developers didn't respond to the local community's indignation, as expressed through:

• two new websites (HellNо̄ Hallо̄ and Hellhо̄le Nelson),
• on social media platforms such as Facebook and Reddit,
• and a through a successful petition, which highlighted concerns over land rights, the area's historical value, and how the development might affect Nelson's unique community identity and the affordability of housing.

Nelson Star

Vancouver Sun — Big plans for luxury golf resort development unveiled in Nelson

Many Nelsonites feel stunned once again when another advertorial appears in a mainstream news publication, this time the Vancouver Sun.

Although it contains very little new information, it is now apparent the Hallо̄ developers are determined to press on with the same plans and arrogant marketing, obstinate to strong objections from the local community.

Highlights

"The development duo had learned that since 2013, Nelson had a luxury resort penciled into their Official Community Plan."

Stating that Nelson's Official Community Plan had provisions for a "luxury resort" is like claiming you hit a hole-in-one when everyone saw you take six strokes.

HINT:  The OCP is available for anyone to read.

We also learn from this article that the "townhomes" will include...

• pink Le Creuset Dutch ovens and
• Northern Feather duvets

...in addition to the other foo-foo luxury items outlined in the Globe & Mail advertorial (above), that seem as out-of-place in the Kootenays as herd of elephants would be on the putting green.

Vancouver Sun

Renovation Announced, Then Canceled

In December 2024, Hallō Properties announced that renovations to Granite Pointe would begin in 2025. However, shortly afterward, the plan was quietly abandoned, leaving the golf course in limbo and adding further uncertainty to its operations.

Renovation Plans Uncertain

Hallō Properties has stated that Granite Pointe’s renovation is now scheduled for 2026. However, given previous delays and shifting timelines, whether the project will actually proceed remains uncertain.

A Tentative New Era for Granite Pointe

If renovations proceed as planned, Granite Pointe is expected to reopen as a Par 70 course after two seasons of closure. The redesigned layout, with steep terrain and dramatic elevation changes, will provide a challenging, high-exertion experience for golfers looking for something out of the ordinary.